Your education is within reach, and we're here to help
At the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, we are here to assist you on your journey as you apply for financial aid, explore your options, and make a plan to finance your education. It is important to us that you have the information you need along the way and understand how to use financial literacy resources.
Whether you are applying to the UW-Platteville campus or the branch campus at Baraboo Sauk County, follow these instructions to start your financial aid process. Please direct any questions to the Financial Aid Office.
Financial Aid Eligibility
To be considered for federal and state financial aid, you must meet the following guidelines:
- Be a citizen or permanent resident of the United States
- Have earned a high school diploma, GED or HSED certificate
- Have been admitted to UW-Platteville as a degree-seeking student
- Demonstrate financial need (except for Federal Unsubsidized Direct, Parent PLUS, or Alternative loans)
- Have a valid social security number
- Have registered with Selective Service (if required)
- Be current (not in default) on any educational loans, and not owe a repayment on any federal grant
- Maintain satisfactory academic progress once in school in accordance with federal regulations
- Enroll in at least six credits per semester for undergraduate students, and five credits for graduate students
Financial Aid Application Process
Every year, the federal government provides over $150 billion in financial aid to students.
Filling out the Federal Application for Student Aid (FAFSA) is your first step in applying for aid. State government aid and some UW-Platteville aid are also awarded based on your FAFSA information, so you should apply even if you believe you don’t qualify for aid.
Filling Out the FAFSA
- You will be able to complete the online FAFSA each year beginning on October 1.
- The first time you complete a FAFSA, it should take approximately 30 minutes.
- The FAFSA for the 2021-2022 year will use income information from the 2019 tax year.
- The FAFSA for the 2022-2023 year will use income information from the 2020 tax year.
- Students and parents will need their own FSA ID’s and passwords. The student and parent must use separate email addresses and separate security questions to create their ID.
- You will need income information for both the student and parent.
- When completing the FAFSA, you will be asked to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool. We strongly recommend that you use this tool to automatically import your income information into the FAFSA.
- The UW-Platteville and UW-Platteville Baraboo Sauk County federal school code is 003921.
- The priority date for filing the FAFSA is February 1.
- If you have questions on any portion of the application, please contact the financial aid office by email at finaid@uwplatt.edu or by phone at 608.342.1836.
Next Steps
Watch for email from the Financial Aid Office directing you to your PASS account.
- If your To Do List is clear and complete the next email you will receive from us will be an award notification advising you that your financial aid offer is ready to view in your PASS account. The email will have links to terms and conditions, and an award guide which explains the type of aid in detail.
- New freshmen will be notified of their award package in late-January.
- Returning students will be notified of their award package in late-May after final grades have posted.
Review your financial aid award notification for accuracy.
- Accept or decline your awards through your PASS account. Grants and scholarships are accepted on your behalf, but you must actively accept loans to receive them.
- If you accept loans, your To Do List will update with additional requirements. Make sure you are monitoring your email and PASS To Do List regularly.
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Verification
Roughly 1 in 3 students nationwide are selected by the Federal Department of Education to submit additional verification paperwork to their Financial Aid Office. If you are selected for verification, items needed to complete the process will be identified in your PASS account on your To Do List.
The items most requested are tax information for both the student and parent, and an electronic worksheet identifying the number of people who live in the household, and of those the number of people attending college.
Selection for verification usually occurs after the initial FAFSA is completed. However, any changes to the FAFSA at a later date could also prompt the verification process, and lead to a change in your financial aid awards. For this reason, monitor your email and To Do List regularly.
The Financial Aid Office will help you through the verification process. More information is available on Verification Instructions. Or, contact our office by phone at 608.342.1836 or email at finaid@uwplatt.edu and ask for assistance with the verification process. Video resources are also available to describe the verification process in further detail.
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Disbursement of Aid
If all of your PASS To Do List items are complete, financial aid awards are applied directly to your account at the beginning of each semester. If the financial aid that has been disbursed to your student account is greater than the sum of your tuition/fees and other charges directly billed to you, you will be eligible for a refund. Refunds generate within 14 days of the credit balance. Most refunds are eligible for direct deposit. Additional information can be found on the Cashier’s Office page.
Work Study Funds
Federal Work Study is a federally funded, need-based program, which gives you the opportunity to work on or off-campus part-time. You can earn money to supplement your education while gaining meaningful work experience. You will need to obtain a job that is work-study eligible via Handshake. Keep in mind that the funds will never disburse towards your bill, you will earn the funds by working and receiving a paycheck.